BUCKING THE SYSTEM: SAVING SOULS WITH S.O.L.S. IS IMPORTANT GOAL THIS YEAR

Several years ago I committed myself to helping improve my community. I joined several civic organizations and have met many new people. I attend meetings of groups I'm not affiliated with as often as possible, and I speak often before youth and parenting organizations.

In some ways I think I've made a difference, but in others I still haven't accomplished what I set out to do. You see, my goals are mainly to improve the lives of youth -- and especially teen-age girls -- and in this I know I haven't been successful. I know this because unlike the three monkeys, I can see, hear and smell evilness with very little effort.

For example, I can smell young girls whose clothing isn't clean and who don't know the first thing about female hygiene. I also can hear young girls when they curse like sailors, discuss the merits of receiving aid from "The System," and disrespect their elders.

And I can see young girls who don't know how to dress or act appropriately and who demean themselves sexually and criminally because they have no concept of self-worth.

Unlike many people, I take these problems seriously and personally. I have a problem blaming only the parents or only the schools, because, as I've said many times before, child rearing is a group concept to me. Adults should feel obligated to help children they see who are in need, regardless of whether they have a blood kinship or not. That help may be direct or indirect, monetary or social, but in my mind it should be given as often as it is required.

All too often we think we are too busy to help someone or need to tend to our own troubles. Well, whose trouble is it when crimes committed within our community occur? Increased crime often results in increased prices, decreased property values, and increased taxes. The answer, then is, it's everybody's problem.

Our youth are the souls of our community, and when their existence darkens, so too does ours. They have lost the guidance and supervision that took us to the brink of adulthood, and they are confused and lost as a result.

I'm prepared to do my part. Next Saturday I'm sponsoring the first meeting of the Saving Our Little Sisters Network at the Cape Civic Center from 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. Girls ages 12 through 18 are invited to come and learn about the network, which will work to enhance and develop the academic, behavioral and social skills they need to reach womanhood.

This project belongs to the community, and any woman who wants to help girls become independent women are also invited to attend the meeting. Mentors are needed, and the only requirement is that they care and are prepared to devote themselves, just like women did "back in their day."

S.O.L.S. is definitely not going to be a picnic, for the girls or their mentors. However, there's work to be done, and I'm tired of listening to people -- including myself -- talk about the problems, toss around solutions, and never actually accomplish anything. The time for action is now, and I'm only a phone call away from anyone who wants to help me reach these girls.

Like its name implies, S.O.L.S. is about saving an important part of our moral and spiritual community. I'm starting with girls, and I hope to see men pick up the ball and begin working with the young men in our community.

The ultimate mission of S.O.L.S. is to lead lost female souls back to that light that guided our paths. I've set a difficult task for myself this year, but I've got the desire and I need to act now.

I've got a lot of faith and love to share, and if I can accomplish even a portion of my goal, we're going to save somebody's life this year.

~Tamara Zellars Buck is a staff writer for the Southeast Missourian.